This is my contribution post to #MarketFriday initiated by @dswigle (ππ½ That's her, Denise) and posted by me @c0ff33a (ππ½ That's me βοΈ). Today we are shopping for much needed essential food supplies, in my little area of West Yorkshire, United Kingdom we have had a little bit of cold weather - minus 5 degrees Celsius (23 Farenheight) which if you are used to that sort of cold is nothing special - we are not however, getting a single digit below freezing normally causes chaos - let alone 3 full days and counting of minus 5 degrees and more, combined with heavy snow and winds causing it to drift. It has been that bad last night my house central heating stopped working correctly, I was not too concerned because I have plenty of bitcoin miners running to keep the house warm - but the family are not so appreciative of a lack of hot water. Trudging about in the snow in our back garden I discovered our heating boiler, with is a condenser boiler and has a drain for the water produced as part of it's operation, had it's draining outlet pipe frozen solid from the cold. So the byproduct of it's heating could not be released - backed up into the boiler and presumably set off some safety system. A few kettles of boiling water poured on the drain pipe outlet and up it's length to the wall defrosted it so the heating system gurgled into life and started working like a champ once more.
For this Market Friday we are going to Tesco ππ½ I live in these Supermarkets so often during my week calling in for food supplies, to be fair with the weather and being busy I haven't had chance to call in for over a week - I'd rather not be tonight either in the snow but we need something to eat at home, two growing boys and one grown Woman are expecting me to provide for them - I can't let them down (You probably already know I don't like letting anyone down).
It doesn't look too bad I hear you cry, looking at a little slush lying on the ground outside this store. Well let's take a look at my Wednesday morning drive to work - I'll drop the video link below rather then a gif because you can set it off and enjoy the tunes while you read the rest of this post.
Yes much snow had fallen and still was, not so much compared to other areas of the world - but when you are not used to this sort of cold it's a shock to the system!
So yes it has been a cold week this week, much snow and ice to deal with.
Left in the picture above is Wednesday morning, bottom right is Wednesday while trying to drive to work, top right is Thursday morning! Much snow, my drive to work on Wednesday morning took 1 hour and 15 minutes...to drive 5 MILES - at least I had some good tunes to rock out to while sitting in the queue, thanks again my super cool music creating buddy @avesa - but once I got to work, and started brewing myself a tasty Aeropress of the Thailand Doi Chaang Estate coffee I just got in (It's incredible, love it so much - look out for my coffee of the world post on it very soon) I could hear a dripping noise which was quite perplexing. Hunting through the back passage of my demonstration room (mrs) I found a puddle forming just a few cm from one of my Bitcoin Miners! Damn I would have been salty if that got fried, but this is confusing - we are on the bottom floor of a two floor building and everything is frozen - so where is the water coming from? A mystery.
So before I can even enjoy my hard earned coffee, I have to head upstairs to find the source of this water leak (well after moving the Bitcoin miner further from the drip of course!) It's cold up there, some 14 months ago we shut down the existing building boiler that was the size of a small car and heated the whole building, and had a new efficient small boiler fitted that now only heats the areas of the building we inhabit. The cause of the leak turned out to be related to this, upstairs there is a large (guesstimate 40 litres) cold water header tank for the old boiler. Not used now, it has needed isolating for some time. A job I have been meaning to do, but you know how it is busy lives and if it aint broke don't try and fix it. Well now it is broke, I guess the ball cock valve that controlled it's level has frozen open and let it over fill - water is pouring over the edges of the tank and onto the wooden floor below, and then dripping through that into the lower part of the building.
Now I know some of you will ask why I did not deal with this problem earlier, the reason is the pipework to this tank is some 40 years old, there are no isolation points to it without cutting off at least half of the whole building water supply. So the only way to isolate it is to turn off the building water, disconnect the compression fitting attached to the tank, refit an 15mm compression isolation valve to the removed pipe and then turn the water supply back on. Oh and this tank is 15ft up in the roof of the upstairs, accessible only by a ladder. That is the main reason I avoided the job - along side the fact it wasn't a problem until now. Freezing cold, at the top of a ladder undoing a bolt that has been locked solid for 40 years, and then trying to thread on a new isolation valve - I have a new outlook if it isn't broke still try and fix it in the summer when it's warm. Frozen cold and now with cut sore hands that are bleeding is no fun at all.
With the tank finally isolated and the water turned back on, and also the heating so in the freezing conditions the warehouse can be slightly less like Jack Frosts lair - I still have to deal with the other problem I was ignoring. This header tank is now stagnant, leaving water in it with no flow can lead to all sorts of biological nasties - Legionnaires' Disease being the worst. It needs draining, and of course there is no easy way to drain it. The pipe leading from it to the now unused big boiler has no drain points, but I had already obtained a self tapping valve tap for this purpose. Back up the ladder in the freezing cold - I bolt on the fitting that will allow the tap to screw into the pipe breaking it open and making a new opening to drain it. Well that's the theory - I screw the self tapping tap as far in as it will go. The tap releases no water when opened. π
Cold, sore, bleeding, wobbling about at the top of a ladder my mood is not the best. Puzzled I do the only logical thing - I unscrew the self tapping tap - and surprise surprise when I loosen it to nearly unthreaded the pipe drips - not quick but I can catch the drips in a bucket. I guess the ancient pipe is too thick to allow the self tapping fitting to break it open completely - but at least I can drain the tank slowly and controlled - when I screw the tap tight in the drips stop. In two days I have emptied three buckets (maybe 9 litres) so we are a long way off emptying it but it is controlled.
It's all rock and roll my life, at least the snow has stopped for a while and the road is visible!
But this is still Wednesday, on Thursday we had even more snow!
When you can't see the curb for the snow it presents new problems, how far into the road do you drive to avoid hitting the curb? And then of course people walk on the road - although at this point I don't see any benefit from the path to the road - it's all snow!
So it's a snowy drive to work again, but what was the topic of this post? @txatxy told me the best way to drive out the cold is strong liquor - if this post makes no sense at the end it's because I was trying to keep warm!
#Haturday that was it, the lovely @saffisara started this wonderful tag and what a fitting #haturday for me in my snowboarding sessions beanie - a favourite on the Piste. @old-guy-photos kept hounding me to join Steemit to earn some rewards for my posts because my YouTube channel was - well not so popular. I can't thank him enough I do so love it here and you my Steemit friends, but somehow I am now obsessed I keep worrying about you all. @saffisara had not posted for a few days and I was fretting she was ill, I keep worrying I have upset people if I don't see a post from them or they do not leave a mention on my own, for this last week I have been trying my best to rebuild my upvote - it's now hit 85% and $1.08 at 100% - a real difference that I can now make when I upvote a post. But it makes me sad this week I have not been upvoting all my favourite content creators - I've really missed supporting you all and once I get to that magic 100% Vote Power I will be back to engage with you all.
#MarketFriday - that's the ticket, I totally forgot about @dswigle and her wonderful posting tag while reminiscing on my decidedly frosty week. So for my #MarketFriday we are doing a bit of food shopping.
Fruit, vegetables and some salads staple foods to keep us running in this inclement weather.
Pineapple and Milk - an unusual combination on your cornflakes but full of good nutrients.
πPizza - who doesn't love it, these look super tasty - not upto @ninahaskin Market Friday Extravaganza last week but still tempting. Beef and Taties puff pastry pie for us tonight though, sticking with some staple wholesome food to keep us warm.
Panchetta and varied olive oils, I'm not Italian but I like their style very much.
Spicy and Ricey - you can make something tasty out of these at any time super quick, which is handy because time is something I just never seem to have enough of.
Heading home from my market this hill is my nemesis in the snow, in years gone by the Vauxhall Zafira 7 seater I had got half way up and then got stuck solid slipping it's wheels - I had to back out and find a more level and snow free route. My last Renault the Grande Scenic fared worse - quarter way up and it gave up. But the ludicrously named Kadger, which I only rented because I like the day time running lights - has excelled in the snow. I should have splashed out on the 4wd model for piece of mind, but even the 2wd version is sure footed - climbing this snowy steep hill with ease. As reasonably priced cars go I do like this one, it might not have a prestige name like Audi, BMW, Land Rover - (I'd say Mercedes but every Mercedes driver I have spoken to this week has told me they struggle in the snow badly) but it has served me well taking me to and from work in adverse weather conditions while passing other cars that got stuck in the snow - much respect to Renault and your oddly named Kadjar.
A favourite photo from last summer, not to everyone's taste but I do like this piece of machinery and it serves me well - all you can ask really.
Enjoy some more Tunes to finish this post, it has rather stretched out a bit - I do like giving you all something to get your teeth into - maybe I should work out some JavaScript redirects that jump you straight to the reply button "if your bored of my waffle click here to leave a reply and then go and do something more interesting.
Yes indeed, without my Vote Power I have felt lost, it is my Mojo and without it being on Steemit just has not been quite the same.
But all that recharging has been worth it, I'm nearly back where I was one week ago - and I can continue doing what I love best on Steemit - upvoting my favourite content creators and commenting and sharing your work. Special thanks this week go out to some amazing people on Steemit who really drive me to work harder on here, selfless individuals that look after others more then themselves - @reko, @enginewitty, @battleaxe, @sircork on his world tour and wonderful people working hard on the ground doing positive work like @aydayodeji and @crisangel - people who treat their rewards as something to put to good use not just line their own pockets and feather their own nests. Support the people who need it the most, through these selfless accounts on Steemit working hard to make a real difference to the people who need it, if you enjoyed this post and wish to share an upvote - do not upvote my post go to the blog of @youarehope and give your upvote to a charity account that makes a real difference to peoples lives - support @fishyculture who posts Thankful Thursday Reports she selflessly makes a post every week and gives the post rewards back to @youarehope to support the most needy in our community.
Throughout my nearly 1 whole year on Steemit I have learned alot, it's been an amazing journey and every single one of you reading this right now has contributed to it. I am humbled that you continue to follow me, read through my rambling and often random posts and take the time to leave me a comment - it means a great deal. Comments can mean so much to everyone, and I still find some hard working content creators getting good upvote and post rewards - but no comments. A comment shows the creator of a post that their hard work has been enjoyed, it can lift someones day and drive them on to do bigger and greater posts - if you can and will take the time to visit the blog of a few people you enjoy the work of today - and leave a positive comment. It will lift them and also give you a little warm fuzzy feeling inside you made someone else's day better - we all live complicated lives and often try to mask and hide how hard they are - your comment or kind words could make a bigger difference then you ever can realise.
Stay safe and strong my Steemit friends, together we can do amazing things - I remain here for all of you, if you need help just ask - if it is beyond my own ability I can reach out for you to others greater then I.
If you enjoyed my post donβt forget to leave an Upvote, feel free to comment on what you liked or where I can do better even. Follow @c0ff33a for regular and varied posts, photography, my weekly VLOG, posts on coffee roasting and brewing - just follow and see.
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All photos are my own, taken with my iPhone. All my steemit posted pictures can be freely used by other Steemit users in their own blog posts - all I ask is that you follow me and credit @c0ff33a linking to my post you took it from. You can also follow me on Twitter
For Steemit to grow we need to post rich content - interesting and unique posts that encourage others to join in and share their experiences. If you feel your own posts are not doing well look at what your favourite content creators are doing - if you like their work they are doing something you could do as well - think of way to do similar things with your own unique twist.
The picture to the right kindly sketched by the wonderful @bridget.art , be sure to check her incredible art out https://steemit.com/@bridget.art
As Steemit grows making your content stand out gives it a greater chance to be seen and enjoyed, I try to work on making one post every few days - but making it as big and content rich as I can. I don't know if this is the right way, but I enjoy the most big content rich posts - and a wise man on Steemit once said to me - make your content like the content you enjoy.
!steemitworldmap 53.766547 lat -1.801500 long Bradford, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom. d3scr
This is amazing...the place is such huge just like Adum market l shared..but this comes with so much beauty..wow...beautiful photography you gave us..keep making this challenge lively and support..this is a great day..have a sweet weekend @c0ff33a
Thank you very much for the kind words, I appreciate you taking the time to view my post and leave a comment.
seems very cold
It feels very cold as well!
It's easy to say "why don't you fix something, and yesterday", but you always have 101 things to do and get caught up on and, if it's not a pressing problem, sometimes there just isn't enough time in the day.
Plus, the only things that fall into the category of 'you should have fixed this' are just the few that move into the 'pressing problems' from the unpressing ones, such as in what you highlighted below, and then it becomes one of the 101, haha.
Plus, with all that snow and weather hardship, I know it's tough to find the energy and get that project going - when I was in Denmark, it was always such a battle during the blizzards and such to work up that motivation.
All that to say, power to you for working through multiple situations and getting it handled, and glad that you have a great rewarding cup of some of the best beans you can come by!
You are always such a source of positive energy and support here, @c0ff33a mate, just so glad that the ebb and flow of steem led me this way on my journey.
Speaking of journeys, so much congratulations to you on your impeding achievement of completing your steem journey around the sun, good sir!
You're the man, and I'm just excited to be on the next trip with you - all the best!
@carmalain7 you have taken my #FreeCommenting to heart, when you turn a comment into an actual post it makes the experience so much more special. But it is I that should be honoured to have found you on Steemit, your exceptional knowledge and experience with writing , knowledge of the Romantics period and general ability to warm the heart of everyone you cross paths with is both encouraging and inspirational. Thank you for sharing your precious time and talent with me, I truly appreciate it.
ahh, now I know what #FreeCommenting means! I'm excited to bare the flag, wave it proudly and do you proud @c0ff33a!
It's funny to think how different our content is, yet how much I connect with what you do. Much like @snook's and what she talked about, shows the power of @thealliance connecting us all on such a interesting platform under the banner of kinship.
That said, I can't wait to put in some orders for some of the coffees you recommend in your coffee posts and benefit from your time honored specialty knowledge - always nice to have an expert to guide you through a bit!
Hey mate, right back at you! Happy to share this little corner of the interweb with ya.
The magic of Steemit and Family :D
Ha! Sneaking in on a Thursday just coz she is on vacation! Oh I bet that wont slide!!
Can ya tell I got Gina going LOL?
We got the white stuff too. In fact I am working on a mild rant about it.
Yes Steemit can become somewhat immersive, much like falling down the rabbit hole, no? It is the most fun when one realizes there are real folks behind most of the avatars.
Yep Tabasco and Franks Red Hot can do wonders for most any dish. I just didnt see they had our fav...
Thanks Paul, this is another one of those let's put everything I wanted to post all week but didn't get chance into one great big one - I'm thinking of everyone here instead of doing 3 upvotes you only have to do one - and then you have two spare to spend on someone more deserving. That hot sauce looks vicious - if they had it in the UK it would probably be in a locked cabinet! Best go and see if the wiggle has put her #MarketFriday post - isn't she permanently on vacation?
a very interesting and inspiring post. I'm new to this platform, and I'm very interested in your post
Thank you very much, I appreciate you being interested in my post!
Hey my friend @c0ff33a great post and Amazing Photos ! I enjoyed your content. Keep up the good work! It's always nice to see good content here on Steemit! :)
Thank you very much, I appreciate your kind words and continued support.
you welcome sir
It's seems very cold over there an I think a cup of hot tea and relaxing around a fire tunnel will be all you guys need. Go and get yourself some stuff before its gets out if hand.
Good advice thank you, iβm Having a coffee and getting my warm stood next to my coffee roaster while roasting coffee!
We haven't had much snow this season. I never liked having to drive when it snowed. Some people just drive too crazy. Stay safe and warm!!
Thank you very much, you are quite right as well when the snow is on the roads it seems to make drivers loose all common sense. I would rather not drive in the snow if I can avoid it, but so far it has not been too bad my car seems to be coping quite well with the slippy roads.
I heard you @c0ff33a! Wow the weather is really bad over there! Ufff oh my! A little bit too much for me! Frozen pipes that is an abomination! Luckily you fixed the problem and you and your family are warm again!!
Yeah! The weather is going crazy, my younger sister lives in Tarrona, Spain and even she got snow over.
Happy you got your shopping food done! Your #marketfriday looks pretty good!
Cheer up my dear friend!!!
Ps: I like the music of your video, it is very cool!
Thank you very much, I had the same frozen pipe problem at work today as well! Itβs been a chilly week this week, Iβm glad you enjoyed my retro music soundtrack for the videos - makes an interesting change.
a very interesting and inspiring post. I'm new to this platform, and I'm very interested in your post
Thank you very much, there are some really amazing content creators on Steemit if you take the time to look around.
oh man this much cold out there never seen in my life
Itβs been super frosty here in the UK this week, we are not used to this extreme cold so the whole country just grinds to a halt!
No banana Milkshakes? Seriously? Panda needs more Milkshake or no more support for you -_-
Aw, heβs needs a drink of milk!
Oh! It looks like a freezer, good post and I still thank you for sharing.
It feels like being in a freezer too! Thank you for taking a look at my post and leaving a comment.
Really cold out there, have never experienced snow before. Would love to experience it someday, thank you for constantly supporting . I feel the love all the time. You put so much time into putting your post together and I admire your desire to see everybody grow. Stay warm
Hopefully one day you will get chance, itβs considerably more fun when you know you can leave it at any time! Thank you very much for your kind words, I keep trying my best to support as many as I can.
I love to dmy shopping with my wief in Sunday, afternoon,I think you are did a mazing shopping with good price.
Sunday is a good day to shop, thank you for taking the time to read my post and leave a comment.
Your welcome Ω Ψ±ΨΨ¨Ψ§ it's a pleasure for me to reading your a post steemit gof33a.
Dang!! That weather is crazy! Good thing you have those miners!
It's so tough to manage VP. Especially with tools like autovoters. How far down did your power get?
It's sn0w much fun! Freeze is not the word. I was at 40% Vote Power since last November - but with the amount of Steem Power I had that still gave a $1.40 upvote so I just kept pretty much upvoting at the same rate it recharged so it always stayed the same. Since that 5K delegation went back, I was really forced to quit upvoting (well much much reduced anyway) to recharge it - because once I get to 100% it will be pretty much the same upvote value I had before.
damn never seen this much cold before its freezing out her burrrrr!!!!
It was even more freezing when I got to work today - heating boiler had shut off with an error - boiler drain pipe was frozen solid just like my home boiler did. So I had to spend a while removing all the drain pipes and emptying the ice out!
thanks for showing us around in such a weather too this is fantastic :)
Thank you very much, itβs certainly made my week very interesting !
Following you into that store has made me want fresh pineapple. :P
I have not one but two #marketfriday's worth of pictures in waiting and still did not manage to get one posted this week due to work kicking my behind. lol
I hope the snow stops for good this winter for ya soon. We got pretty lucky here, so far and didn't get as much as we could have.
Glad you got your shopping done after all that i must say i love the snow when i am on a sunny top mountain skiing down apart from living with snow you can keep it i will stay in sunny Thailand ...hehe :))
I'm off topic .. but I want to know if.. I'm welcome to come to UK Hhahaha .. thank you @c0ff33a for all
Woow,, Minus 5 degrees Celsius below zero ,,, very cold weather, including snow ,,, really it caused a lot of crises in the city with difficulty to roam within it ,,, it is always best to keep the necessary supplies, I live in the Middle East ,,, and when the temperature reaches 15 degrees Celsius we feel very cold ,,, and the presence of snow is rare ,,, but we suffer from extreme winds and cold, with the lack of our state of electricity and heating ,,, But my friend I wish you Safety at all timesΨΨ take care my dear friend @c0ff33aπππ
You always have an oddisey to tell us in every post @c0ff33a and the best part of it is that I can't help reading it all hehehehe
Such amazing journey to fix heating and getting supplies for your home and that shows you are a man who is really worried about providing the best for your family.
Thank you very much @felobtc , I am very much like you driven by my family and helping them - together a family can be very strong and grow together. I'm quite lucky that my life brings such entertainment that I can fill out many blog posts just with what I have been doing!
hello snowman hehe, how cold and how many adventures, I get in your car and travel, clean and fix the boiler with you and of course I smell that delicious coffee.
here has also been snow, snow that we did not see in the city for 34 years, nice pictures but very cold, I have to make my market and it is very similar to yours, do we buy in the same places kilometers away?
thanks for the entertaining entrance
Thank you for once again blessing my posts Pretty Lady @txatxy (I remember @old-guy-photos saying I should call you that ;-) I'm not very good at photography, poetry is well beyond my skills, my writing is mediocre so all I have to work with is my daily life - maybe we do shop in the same supermarket - just a few miles apart (well few hundred). Be blessed and warm this weekend.
xoxo
Very good memory @c0ff33a! Yes I always call @txatxy, Pretty Girl, but come to think of it, Pretty Lady has a nice ring to it.
It can be slightly unnerving how quickly people respond now, Pretty Lady @txatxy would love to have a nice ring I imagine π
You look really cold. We have highs in the high 80s here. We also call prawns "shrimp". I love the different terminology..
Always a bit Frosty @deadgrlsuppastar , but I am pleased you are keeping warm. Shrimp - yes that's the posh term for prawns. Keep being awesome, I have missed your posts.
Thanks for such an informative post - well worth the Upvotes you are getting. Glad you now have hot water at both places!
I love to shop at Tesco's, but I think you can keep the snow! I was watching it fall yesterday in Scotland via Facetime with my sister!
Stay warm and safe! And drink plenty coffee!!
Thank you very much, because I'm not very good at anything really my blog posts just started to be about my life - which bizarely people seem to find entertaining. I find it relatively easy to just type up the things I have been doing - so that's just what I do - I appreciate every upvote and comment I get, still humbles me every day that people take the time to be interested in me. Thanks for your continued support.
You are welcome! ππ
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Does it ever not snow or rain where you live in the UK??? @c0ff33a Jeezo! There's nothing worse than having to grocery shop when you are out of food. It feels like such a job having to find things in the store, haul everything home, unpack, put everything away, make dinner, clean the dishes...Sigh! I'm exhausted just typing it.
Hmm, never heard of a "ball cock valve" before and I'm definitely glad you were able to fix the problem it was causing!
And then there was that terrific shout out and reference to my MOD Pizza post -- so incredibly sweet of you! I think the prawn pizza at your "Tesco" grocery store would taste delicious. Have you ever tried it before? I smiled at your "spicy and ricey" comment -- good one!π
Hope you have an amazing Sunday!!!βπ―
I canβt believe the snow you have in England. Thatβs the winter weather usually reserved for my area but not much this year. Take care as so many accidents when motorists not used to driving in those conditions. Great post by the way. π